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Teaching Corner

Teacher Stories

Cultural Exchange 

Power Skills

Teacher Life

At EF Teach Online, we provide the technology to connect teachers and students worldwide. Here you'll find tools, tips and teacher stories to power your online classes.

Ef Teach ‹ Teach Online - 2

Hello all! This is Lance, writing from China! I was born and grew up here. My hometown is in Qingdao (yes, the beer city), and now I’m living in Shanghai. I am now an online English teacher and Community Manager at EF China.
I joined EF in 2018 as a part-time teacher, and 2022 marks my 4th year here. The very first reason I like this job is its flexibility! I can teach anywhere across the country at any time. This job offers me an opportunity to meet people from all over the planet, my students and my peers are always my resources for various experiences and stories.
Working at EF  is a Career Bootcamp, where I learned different career tips. Among those lessons I learned here, the most valuable is never to set limits for yourself. EF has always supported my personal development plan, offering me chances to transfer to different products, departments even different cities. So, remember: Think big, and act fast!
As a social animal, I like to spend my free time with my friends and close colleagues, going out for a nice meal or exploring a new place for fun are always my top priority for killing time. If you ever visit or drop by in Shanghai, let me know! And I will show you around!
 
Learn more about EF Teach Online <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/teachonline/">here.</a>

Hello all! This is Lance, writing from China! I was born and grew up here. My hometown is in Qingdao (yes, the beer city), and now I’m living in Shanghai. I am now an online English teacher and Community Manager at EF China. I joined EF in 2018 as a part-time teacher, and 2022 marks …

Let’s meet the teachers – Lance - EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Lance ‹ EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Lance

Lets meet the teachers lance

My name is Kerstin, and I was born, raised, and educated in California San Francisco Bay Area. I first started working at EF as a summer teaching job in 2001 when its center was located on the Mills College campus in Oakland, California. EF and I liked each other so much that we wanted to work a bit longer. The experience inspired me to pursue an MA TESOL, which I earned in 2005.
I have been teaching online since 2007 after learning about EF’s online school, Englishtown, while I was wrapping up my first two years of in-person teaching. Between 2007 and 2012, I worked with EF’s online students for about three years. In 2014, I decided to make a longer commitment to EF and have been here ever since. 
What I like most about being an online teacher, specifically at EF, is working in a learning environment where everyone can learn English, which is so important to me that I rarely miss the chance to say this in my introduction to group lessons students. EF’s online classrooms have been the only place in which I have been able to work with any given group of students comprised of a range of differences, including age, educational level, professional background, geographical location (even students from the same country living in different cities), native language(s), and English language learning goals. 
Teaching online is a tie between staying reflective as a teacher and making time to study a foreign language. 
As educators, we have areas for improvement just like our students, so their constructive criticism about us can be just as useful for our growth as we want our feedback to be for them. 
And we all know the benefits of foreign language learning – and that consistent practice trumps often unrealistic blocks of study time – so why not improve ourselves through foreign language study and create an authentic way to further relate to our students?
I study Spanish and French I started taking seriously in the mid-1990s. I also exercise, knit accessories, cook, and bake. Lately, I have been practicing macrame, and last year I started an indoor vegetable garden.
 
Learn more about EF Teach Online <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/teachonline/">here.</a>

My name is Kerstin, and I was born, raised, and educated in California San Francisco Bay Area. I first started working at EF as a summer teaching job in 2001 when its center was located on the Mills College campus in Oakland, California. EF and I liked each other so much that we wanted to …

Let’s meet the teachers – Kerstin - EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Kerstin ‹ EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Kerstin

Lets meet the teachers kertin

I’m Jaye and I am originally from Henan, China. I’ve been living in Shanghai for two years since I came back from Dubai. Before I joined EF as a full-time online English teacher, I was involved in tourism in Dubai. A bit earlier than that, I was studying in Salt Lake City for my master’s degree in business administration. I appreciate all the experiences I have had because they are the reason I am where I am today.
Back in 2019, my career was hit due to the restrictions caused by COVID-19. Luckily, I met EF while I was wandering around. I started my online teaching career, that is, as quoted “It meant to be.” I am proud of being a member of EF and I enjoy every moment when I share my knowledge and experience with students. I have taught adults both online and offline but found I really love online teaching the most. Because online teaching not only will be the trend but also the most satisfying way for both teachers and students to achieve their goals.
The best tip I can give is to be attentive. Students always want to learn English in an effective way. They have their different habits of learning too, which they may not notice. Giving them authentic feedback is the key to effective teaching.
When I’m not teaching, I love dancing and playing with my adorable cat, Doudou. Since Doudou is a dog cat, I must play the toss-and-fetch game with her every time I play some dance music to dance to; otherwise, she won’t let me dance! Gradually, we become workout buddies.
 
Learn more about EF Teach Online <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/teachonline/">here.</a>

I’m Jaye and I am originally from Henan, China. I’ve been living in Shanghai for two years since I came back from Dubai. Before I joined EF as a full-time online English teacher, I was involved in tourism in Dubai. A bit earlier than that, I was studying in Salt Lake City for my master’s …

Let’s meet the teachers – Jaye - EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Jaye ‹ EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Jaye

Lets meet the teachers jaye

My name is Grace and I’m originally from Pretoria, otherwise known as Jacaranda City, a quiet city popularly recognised for its beautiful, purple-flowered Jacaranda trees and impressive architecture, however, I currently live in the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg. I was introduced to EF through my sister who sent me a job vacancy at the centre in Joburg due to my prior interest in the ESL teaching space so when I applied and later learned that I was successful, choosing to take on this new role as an online English teacher was a no-brainer.
I have been teaching English online since early 2018, so it’s been a little over 4 years now and when I think about my teaching journey I’m always surprised at how far I’ve come and my ability to adapt to most, if not any situation, I’ve had to experience along the way – from teaching group lessons and private lessons then being a part of a team of back-up teachers when the online kids’ platform was launched, I can truly say I’ve seen it all and have loved the process of change and growth that each opportunity presented me with.
Even though I have had experience teaching both adults and children, I truly enjoy teaching adults because there’s an exchange – I learn from them just as much as they learn from me. It’s also unbelievably rewarding to see them excel in both their personal and professional lives and know that I had a part to play in that. My approach to teaching is giving students room to make mistakes and adapting to each student’s level of speaking so that you meet them where they are. I believe being patient and creating a space where they are heard is very important too, so it’s essential to train those active listening muscles.
I really enjoy frequenting new restaurants whenever I am not working as Joburg really has a lot to offer when it comes to food, hiking is also a favourite, and indoor activities like catching up on a good series or movie or even reading a book are my ideal ways of winding down.
 
Learn more about EF Teach Online <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/teachonline/">here.</a>

My name is Grace and I’m originally from Pretoria, otherwise known as Jacaranda City, a quiet city popularly recognised for its beautiful, purple-flowered Jacaranda trees and impressive architecture, however, I currently live in the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg. I was introduced to EF through my sister who sent me a job vacancy at the …

Let’s meet the teachers – Grace - EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Grace ‹ EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Grace

Lets meet the teachers grace

My name is Geeta and I am from Kolkata, India.
I have been working as a Writing Corrector with EF since 2013, and I have had the privilege of correcting the texts submitted by students of EF worldwide for the past nine years.
I have been greatly impressed by the quality of work submitted by students and have, in my own small way, tried to guide them wherever they have faltered in terms of grammatical construction or spelling. I hope I have been able to contribute to the knowledge of the students in different parts of the world and helped them in their quest for a better life.
I am a qualified Homeopathic doctor. Although I do not practice on a commercial basis, I offer consultancy to my family and friends and also attend a charitable dispensary catering to the underprivileged sections of our society two days a week.
I find both the job of Writing Corrector and my honorary medical practice extremely rewarding as, in both cases, I am able to contribute to the welfare of my fellow human beings.
The best tip I can give to my students is to read lots of English language books and magazines which will enable them to achieve fluency in the language.
As the mother of a teenage daughter who is just entering college, I hardly have any time for pursuing hobbies which are reading and listening to old Hindi songs. I love the flexibility that my work at EF provides me and I hope I can continue to make a meaningful contribution to all my beloved students worldwide.
 
Learn more about EF Teach Online <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/teachonline/">here.</a>

My name is Geeta and I am from Kolkata, India. I have been working as a Writing Corrector with EF since 2013, and I have had the privilege of correcting the texts submitted by students of EF worldwide for the past nine years. I have been greatly impressed by the quality of work submitted by …

Let’s meet the teachers – Geeta - EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Geeta ‹ EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Geeta

Lets meet the teachers geeta

My name is Elle, but I am fondly known by my students as ‘Ellie’ – well at least that’s just how they enjoy reading it. I always begin my lessons with a fit of the giggles because of this, and it sets the tone for the rest of my day. I am writing to you all from Pretoria, which is one of the capital cities of South Africa, and so this is the place that I call home.
Previously, when asked about some of my best personal attributes, I reflected on the question for quite some time, but now I can confidently respond by saying: ‘Patience.’. The world has made us understand the role of a teacher as that of sharing knowledge, while the role of a student is just that of receiving it. For me, having had the opportunity to work as a language teacher (for both kids and adults) on the EF platform, has inspired so many ‘ah-ha’ moments in me too – what I mean is, the past three years have been just as knowledgeable for me because I continue to learn so much from my students as they do from me.
In as much as we strive to make the experience a pleasant and enjoyable one for all our students, it is equally as important for us as teachers not to neglect the technicalities which form a part of a successful educational journey. This is something I have maintained by not only making my feedback very grammar specific but also by documenting it in written detail. This has helped my students have a clear understanding of where exactly they went wrong, how to correct their mistakes, and avoid repeating them in the future by always having my notes as an educational reference to look back to. (FYI: This is the most popular technique that scores me most of my 5-star after-class ratings from students, citing their appreciation of my attentiveness to detail.).
I go all out to create a good work-life balance so to help keep me motivated and enthusiastic in my job. So, in my free time, I really enjoy a good adventure that obviously rewards me with some food afterward, shopping, traveling, or even curling up with a good fiction novel on my couch.
 
Learn more about EF Teach Online <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/teachonline/">here.</a>

My name is Elle, but I am fondly known by my students as ‘Ellie’ – well at least that’s just how they enjoy reading it. I always begin my lessons with a fit of the giggles because of this, and it sets the tone for the rest of my day. I am writing to you …

Let’s meet the teachers – Elle - EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Elle ‹ EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Elle

Lets meet the teachers elle

I am Debapriya and I am from Bangalore, India. I joined EF in 2010 and over the years I have worked in different teams. Right from the start, I fell in love with the culture, people, and vibe, which form the very essence of EF. It was fascinating to interact with EF colleagues all over the world.
I joined the Writing Corrections Team in November 2018. As Steve Jobs once said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do”. I love the work-life balance and the flexible schedule that working from home offers. It’s a continuous learning process and working remotely helps me focus on my work. It is immensely rewarding to be able to help students in their learning process.
The best tip I can share is to give constructive and clear feedback to the students. The feedback should help the student to understand the error. Constructive feedback is a gateway to excellence and will help mould students in their language learning process.
In my spare time, I love reading. It is pure bliss to curl up with a book and a cup of tea. Writing is my forte and I enjoy penning down my thoughts. Summing up, I believe “Live every moment, laugh everyday and love beyond words”.
 
Learn more about EF Teach Online <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/teachonline/">here.</a>

I am Debapriya and I am from Bangalore, India. I joined EF in 2010 and over the years I have worked in different teams. Right from the start, I fell in love with the culture, people, and vibe, which form the very essence of EF. It was fascinating to interact with EF colleagues all over …

Let’s meet the teachers – Debapriya - EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Debapriya ‹ EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Debapriya

Lets meet the teachers debapriya

My name is Chris, and I am originally from Worcester, a small city in the centre of England, which is where I live now. My EFL teaching journey began in 2007 with a teaching post in Seoul, South Korea, and this later led me to a teaching post in Tokyo, Japan.  Since spring 2020, I have been back in my hometown teaching English online with EF.
Teaching from home has been a major advantage.  Not only has it offered me a safer working environment, but also it has provided me with the opportunity to engage with people from all over the world. I have also particularly enjoyed using the EF online platform to teach during this time.
Seeing my students develop their skills and improve their fluency in my classes helps to make me feel like I am doing a job that makes a difference in people’s lives, which is important to me.  Seeing how enthusiastic students are about learning English also fills me up with a lot of positive energy and inspires me to keep working hard to improve my teaching.
The best tip I can give is to adapt the materials where necessary to suit the needs and abilities of each student.  Having a range of activities and ideas you can draw from in class, especially during the practice stage of the lesson, helps to ensure students come away from the class feeling like they have learned something.
When I’m not teaching, I love reading and going to the gym. I’m currently getting to grips with a number of different Shakespeare plays. It’s interesting to see how the grammar and vocabulary of our language have changed over the centuries.
 
Learn more about EF Teach Online <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/teachonline/">here.</a>

My name is Chris, and I am originally from Worcester, a small city in the centre of England, which is where I live now. My EFL teaching journey began in 2007 with a teaching post in Seoul, South Korea, and this later led me to a teaching post in Tokyo, Japan.  Since spring 2020, I …

Let’s meet the teachers – Chris - EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Chris ‹ EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Chris

Lets meet the teachers chris

My name is Caroline and I’m from the UK. I live in Chesterfield, a market town close to the city of Sheffield and on the doorstep of the beautiful Peak District National Park. I have been teaching on the EF platform for two and a half years now and have recently become involved in the exciting new project Life and Career Club, which EF offers. 
I love the flexibility and convenience of working from home, this suits my lifestyle because I have three children so fit my work schedule around their needs. Having traveled a lot when I was younger, teaching online keeps the world outside of my home office open to me – I am still exploring and learning despite not leaving my home! Teaching adult learners online is a tremendously rewarding experience, I can truly say I learn as much from my students as they learn from me! 
My top teaching tip is to actively listen to your students, creating a safe and nurturing space filled with respect and empathy where your students feel confident to talk and develop their communication skills. 
 
<img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-18866" height="300" sizes="(max-width: 198px) 100vw, 198px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/caroline-C-198x300.png" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/caroline-C-198x300.png 198w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/caroline-C.png 454w" width="198">
 
Learn more about EF Teach Online <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/teachonline/">here.</a>

My name is Caroline and I’m from the UK. I live in Chesterfield, a market town close to the city of Sheffield and on the doorstep of the beautiful Peak District National Park. I have been teaching on the EF platform for two and a half years now and have recently become involved in the …

Let’s meet the teachers – Caroline - EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Caroline ‹ EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Caroline

Lets meet the teachers caroline

I am Anju from India. I am from a district called Coorg, in the state of Karnataka, in the south of India. Coorg is well known for its coffee and pepper plantations. In fact, I live on a coffee plantation with my husband, daughter, and pets. When I have spare time, I help on the plantation, applying fertilizer, pruning the coffee shrubs, and tending to the pepper vines, and the vegetables we grow. I feel a sense of satisfaction in the midst of nature. We try to practice sustainable living. To relax, I read fiction and I like to watch period movies.
I was introduced to EF by a friend and I cannot thank her enough for it. At the time, I wasn’t keen on continuing in my job, as an educator and counsellor, at a regular school. I was looking for something more exciting. I tried my hands at a few other similar jobs, but the gratification was mediocre. Therefore, I took my friend’s suggestion and in 2016, was fortunate enough to start with EF.
As a corrector with EF, I have enjoyed my job thoroughly. I look forward every morning to start correcting. In the process, I have gained many skills relevant to this field and improved my all round knowledge too. Moreover, I am delighted that I am assisting people in progressing in their journey to gain proficiency in English. I also enjoy the flexibility of time this job allows, which grants me enough space to attend to my family.
If I were to offer a tip, being a teacher or in general too, it would be, to be determined to enjoy what you do. It usually brings out the best in people, if they value their circumstances. Many situations may seem daunting at first, but one can overcome any hurdle, with determination.
Coffee cheers to you all. Peace.
 
Learn more about EF Teach Online <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/teachonline/">here.</a>

I am Anju from India. I am from a district called Coorg, in the state of Karnataka, in the south of India. Coorg is well known for its coffee and pepper plantations. In fact, I live on a coffee plantation with my husband, daughter, and pets. When I have spare time, I help on the …

Let’s meet the teachers – Anju - EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Anju ‹ EF Teach Online

Let’s meet the teachers – Anju

Lets meet the teachers anju

Nowadays, Christmas is not celebrated only as a religious holiday, and there are many traditions that people from all over the world have adopted. At this time of year, families get together, eat unique dishes, and exchange gifts. Talking to our teammates at EF Teach Online, we have realized that each family and each culture adds a special touch to the holiday season. So, let’s see what insights they have to share. 
  
Picking the perfect gift – Christine   
I love picking fitting and unique gifts for family members at Christmas time! I keep a running list of gift ideas all year long, so I have many options to choose from at the end of the year. It’s fun to choose a gift that reflects the interests or personality of the recipient. For example, I’ll be gifting my mother-in-law and father-in-law a framed genealogy tree this year. And for my sister, who loves baking cakes, I bought a recipe book for ice cream cakes (hoping to up the challenge for her). For another family member who loves chess, I found a USB stick that looks like a chess piece. Gift-giving is a way for me to show I care and express a little creativity simultaneously!   
  
Spending time with family – Winnie   
On Christmas Eve in Shanghai, I usually take my family to the local Christmas market; we enjoy mulled wine, and chocolates and share interesting things that have happened during the year. Then, in the evening, I quietly place a Christmas gift in my son’s stocking. I look forward to seeing the expression on his face when he finds the present the following day. For us, Christmas is all about warmth, surprise, and happiness!   
  
Exchanging gifts – Matina   
In Greece, we don’t open Christmas presents on Christmas day but on New Year’s day! This is because January 1st is St. Basil’s name day. He was a man who dedicated his life to helping the poor and those in need, so he was the one in charge of bringing presents to the children. Nowadays, things are more flexible, with families opening presents on Christmas or New Year’s, and sometimes, they get two, one for each day!  
  
Unusual holiday traditions – Bea  
Before relocating to Switzerland, I lived in Barcelona, Spain, where they have particular traditions during the holiday season. In Catalonia, different traditions involve the number two (if you know what I mean). One of these traditions is the Caga Tió, which means “Pooping Uncle”. Traditionally it was a piece of wood covered by a blanket and the children ‘feed’ with candies and nougat before Christmas. Then, on Christmas day, they hit the Tió with a stick and sing a song so that it ‘poops’ candies and nougats for them. Nowadays the wood is decorated with a smiley face, a hat similar to that of Santa Claus, placed under the Christmas tree, and ‘fed’ candy. Even now that I’m away, I still keep my Tió under the tree.    
Happy Holidays! 
 
Learn more about EF Teach Online <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/teachonline/">here.</a>

Nowadays, Christmas is not celebrated only as a religious holiday, and there are many traditions that people from all over the world have adopted. At this time of year, families get together, eat unique dishes, and exchange gifts. Talking to our teammates at EF Teach Online, we have realized that each family and each culture …

Gift Giving and Holiday Traditions - EF Teach Online

Gift Giving and Holiday Traditions ‹ EF Teach Online

Gift Giving and Holiday Traditions

Gift giving and holiday traditions

As you may know, meteorologists define winter as the months with the lowest temperatures of the year. This usually corresponds to December, January, and February in the Northern Hemisphere and June, July, and August in the Southern Hemisphere. This may be the theory, but people live and feel the winter season (and the winter weather) in many different ways worldwide. So, to satisfy our curiosity about what winter looks like depending on where you live, we asked staff members: when is winter, and what does it look like where you currently live or where you grew up? Is there snow? Is it freezing or quite tolerable? Is there winter at all? Let’s see what stories they have to share!  
  
Cassius – South Africa   
If you ask any South African, they’ll say, “This coming winter will be even colder than the last one.” We tend to respond fearfully to the cold, considering we have mostly warm weather. All plants lose their vibrant colours and sport only grey-brown tones during the cold months. Snow is very scarce in South Africa, with only about two places having snow yearly. In my home city of Johannesburg, I only remember one day of snow in 2012 – we were all surprised! Winter days can be chilly, but you only need a good jersey. Winter nights, on the other hand, can be freezing. During the nighttime, you need lots of blankets and heating.  
  
John – Scotland  
I grew up in the North East of Scotland, and it can get pretty chilly – I remember winters growing up when it hit -15 for days on end. The days get short, too, and on the shortest day of the year, it gets dark at about half three in the afternoon. As it’s so cold and dark, snow in the winter is fairly normal, especially in the mountains. The house I grew up in was a big, old sandstone farmhouse, and it was absolutely freezing in winter. Luckily, we had a fireplace — some of my earliest winter memories are of getting warm in front of a roaring fire after playing in the snow.  
 
Bea – Venezuela   
I’m originally from Venezuela, and we don’t really get a winter season there. In most parts of the country, it’s summer all year long! This means you only need one type of clothing (very convenient) and depending on where you live you can go to the beach anytime. The country is very diverse, so in the mountains it’s colder and sometimes you get snow; then you also get the rainy season between May and November, and the “colder” season around December and the beginning of the year. However, in most of the country, you can enjoy warm summer weather all year round. Since I moved to Europe, every time my mom says, “Today is really cold here”, it makes me laugh because cold weather is not the same anymore for me.  
  
Sohail – England   
I grew up in the North of England, where the winter can be very moist and cold. We have gale-force winds (40 mph), ice-cold rain, and very short days. The days are not bright as we have thick blankets of clouds covering the sunlight. As soon as possible (at 21 years old), I left the grey clouds of England for the blazing heat in the South of China. One of the seminal moments of my life was sitting in the mid-summer midday sun in Foshan and feeling as though I was melting! I had never experienced heat like it, and I loved it! 
  
Eduardo – Spain   
Recently I moved to Switzerland, so the whole real winter atmosphere is new to me. I grew up in Valencia, Spain, near the beach, where the temperatures are usually not that low. Seeing snow in the Alps, being able to go to the mountains and ski during the weekends, having a glass of gluhwein (or two, why not?), and experiencing temperatures close to zero degrees is very different from what I’m used to. You can tell by my Christmas presents, which included a pair of boots and a heavy winter jacket. Usually, I’m not a big fan of the cold weather, but there’s no denying that the Swiss winter experience has something special about it. 
 
Learn more about EF Teach Online <a href="https://www.ef.com/wwen/teachonline/">here</a>.

As you may know, meteorologists define winter as the months with the lowest temperatures of the year. This usually corresponds to December, January, and February in the Northern Hemisphere and June, July, and August in the Southern Hemisphere. This may be the theory, but people live and feel the winter season (and the winter weather) …

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